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The fair will start today (Friday 20 June) and run for a week. Credit: ITV News Tyne Tees

There had been fears that this year's fair would not happen after a dispute between showmen and land-owners. Credit: ITV News Tyne Tees

The Hoppings, Newcastle's historic funfair, will return today and will run on the Town Moor for a week. It was cancelled last year after a row over rent between the showmen and the land-owners but it was then brought back after negotiations between the two sides.

The annual fair is open today after being postponed due to heavy rain. Credit: ITV

The annual Hoppings fair in Newcastle will be open to the public today despite the Town Moor site remaining very wet and muddy.

The opening of the event, which is billed as Europe's largest travelling fair, was delayed for two days after the ground was deemed unsafe on Friday.

Organisers drained much of the water and put straw down to allow the fair to open on Sunday lunchtime.

Thick mud has become a feature of the event, which is notorious for incurring wet weather. However, this year is only the second time in its 130 year history.

Organiser David Wilson described the opening as a "miracle".

"The public have been clamouring to come on, the showmen have been really keen to open, there's such a huge amount of effort gone in and earlier in the week it just looked like it wasn't going to happen. We've had the worst weather in a century and I'm absolutely delighted we've been able to open."